This clock helps you to see the passage of time in a different way than most: it tracks the passing of a year, rather than hour by hour.

The usual numbers on the face of the clock are replaced by living vegetation — cedar leaves — that will die over time, and turn from green to brown to help you follow the changing seasons. The concept came from the Japanese art of sake making, in which the changing cedar leaves are used to track the year of the fermentation process.

Though the idea of watching the leaves turn brown doesn’t seem like a happy one, transitioning from watching the seconds count down to watching time gradually and naturally pass by would certainly lower your stress levels!

Check out the company behind the clock, Bril, and see more of their unique clock below:

We’re always looking for new ways to create personalized art, so we thought we would share our recent research with you!

We have been looking at a way to create jewellery, from your DNA. The possibilities are endless with this idea, so the process was exciting.

First we took a look at whether we would use the same sequencing procedure as we do with our portraits. We wanted to stay true to our DNA 11 customers and products, but we thought there might be some other interesting patterns in the science that we could work with. We took a look at STR data, to see if it would translate well onto a ring, bracelet, or even necklace.

The numbers in the data would transfer well into measurements of the bands, providing a delicate and perfectly unique pattern for each piece.

Another way we could go about it would be to use our original sequencing, and transfer the entire portrait, or a single ladder onto the piece.

We decided to focus on the idea of a DNA ring. Outside of the DNA data possibilities, there are so many options in the world of jewellery that we have looked at. From the size and design of the piece, to the type of material used, to the way they are physically produced, there is so much to take into consideration. We tried a few 3D-printed prototypes and even discussed with a local jeweller the possibilities of casting each ring.

We started with the above sketches and created some potential digital designs.

Once we saw how the bands could look, we moved forward with 3D printed prototypes.

We played around with silver, gold and titanium options.

We also looked at cutting out the DNA data, compared to raising it above the surface, or etching the full portrait into the ring. The ways of personalizing these pieces never ends!

If you’re familiar with our DNA Portraits, you’ll see the full banding etched into the ring in the above photo!

We’ll keep working on these ideas and let you know what we come up with! In the meantime, let us know what you think or if you have any ideas for cool DNA Art in the comments!

These portraits are made from disease-causing bacteria. Artist/Scientist Zachary Copfer used different types of bacteria for the different portraits, including that which causes respiratory infections and even some from his own body!

The portraits themselves are quite impressive, outside of the medium used to create them. The way Copfer exposes the bacteria to radiation in order to accelerate their growth causes a Lichtenstein appearance in the work as well — the spots of bacteria resembling the comic book style Lichtenstein was known for.

The other thing about creating art from bacteria is that these cells are living things, which means they will eventually die. These works of art are mortal beings.

Artist Bradley Hart has created a bunch of portraits and paintings by injecting paint into bubble wrap — creating a mosaic, pixelated image.

The process is twofold. First he injects each bubble with the paint to create the pixelated look. Second he removes the drippings from the back of the paintings to see the impression of the piece. Some examples are below, with the injection version complete and the impression version almost melting downward.

Besides the fact that these paintings are incredibly well done for being created one bubble (or pixel) at a time, the back stories of Hart’s inspiration is fascinating. Ranging from why he injects the paint, to why he wanted to create pixelated images, to the end meaning behind both the injection and impression pieces, his art is “injected” with sentiment and meaning every step of the way.

Part of what he explains on his website is that: “The bare bubbles in the bubble wrap reference dots or pixels, echoing various movements in art history and other media, including pointillism, screen-printing, TVs and LCS monitors… The process of injecting paint into bubble wrap directly references pixilation (and those 1’s and 0’s) and at the same time harkens back to the time of family portrait painting, when a family’s personal “photo” album consisted of paintings hanging on its walls.”

These drawings are made up of thousands of fine lines, curving and swirling to create unique patterns within the image itself. It’s hard to tell when looking at the images, which he planned out first – what the drawing is of, or the “fingerprints” within them. Using only black ink, he works only with the width and pressure of the lines to illustrate the big picture.

We would love to see one of these images being drawn, to witness Jolly’s process.

We know that as humans on Earth our lives are a constant combination of organization and chaos. What we can’t always see, is the bigger picture.

Photographer Alex MacLean has taken it upon himself to capture just that. Leaning out of the window of an airplane, high above the organization, chaos, or organized chaos — as the case may be — he snaps photographs of the patterns, symmetry and asymmetry that our lives cause and create.

And the resulting images are what you see here.

MacLean is a pilot and a photographer, with a background in architecture. All of these elements of his amazing lifestyle are visible in his images, and seem to contribute to the way he sees and composes his shots. See more the collision of natural and constructed in his images below.

We are always fascinated by artistic studies that investigate the science behind humans. This photographic series does just that.

Photographer Gao Rongguo took photographs of 50-year-old twins standing face-to-face, to show the similarities and differences of how we age. From their physical features, to the differences in their hair styles and wardrobe, these photos provide a contrasting look at the way life changes people.

As if looking into a mirror, Rongguo says the portraits were set up to show how “He/she used to have the same face, living in the same family, but their lives changed due to various reasons after growing up.”

On our theme of typography this week, we’ve found another unique place to incorporate words and letters.

Discovered on Benoit Challand‘s portfolio, Fold Yard desks would be the perfect addition to any company’s office. Even if you aren’t involved with design, you can appreciate these typographic desks as an alternative to the regular cubicle lifestyle!

Your desk could be its own unique shape, plus be part of a curated layout – for instance a letter of the company name, or each employee’s initial. The possibilities are endless!

Light painting has been around for years and it takes a special artist to be able to put a new spin on the technique. Which is exactly what Patrick Rochon has done.

These images were created based on invisible realities. As Rochon explains, “I’ve been fascinated by what we can’t see. Like the shape of sounds, energy, vibrations, feelings, the photons our bodies emits. Light is invisible until it touches something. Vibrations made by our voices have the most intricate shapes as we can see with cymatics.”

So he took this fascination and worked on this series to depict these realities. He says he works in complete darkness to create the images, and uses music to let his body and the sound move him (internally and externally).

This series is currently on display in Calgary, Canada but can be seen on his website as well.

Photographer Phillip Stearns took the notion that the camera is an extension of the eye and applied it literally to this photographic series.

He took household chemicals such as bleach, vinegar, baking soda, and rubbing alcohol and applied them to instant color film. These chemicals, combined with exposure and some 15,000 volts of alternating current, create these layered and detailed patterns across the film.

Stearns says of the final product, “I find it curious and exhilarating that the impressions left behind after developing these extreme exposures so perfectly resemble networks of blood vessels in the retina.” And we can’t help but agree — something that so resembles a science experiment produces such beautiful images and colors.

Take a look at a few more images below!

If you love science and art, you’ll love art created from your DNA at DNA 11.